Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

EAC: Top Kenyan government officialsshrply differed publicly during the debate over the proposed banning of polythene use in EAC partner states

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

Reports emerging from the Northern Tanzanian City of Arushahas revealed how two senior government openly clashed last Friday as they debated whether Kenya should ban the use of polythene materials as is the case in the other East African Community partner states.

The bitter exchange involved the Permanent Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization Karanja Kibicho and his East African Community Kenyan colleague David Nalo.

It says each presented differing views during the public hearing on the EAC Polythene Material Control Bill 2011, which is currently being debated before the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA} in Arusha.

The Bill, which is the brainchild of Patricia Hajabakiga, an EALA member of parliament from Rwanda, seeks to provide a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment by prohibiting the manufacture, sale and importation and use of polythene materials.

The Bill is at the final stage of collecting views at EALA parliament in Arusha. Dr Kibicho said although the Bill means well, it might lead to closure of many firms if it is passed, which might ruin the local economy.”My argument should not be considered to mean I support the use of polythene, but rather my role is to promote industrialization and a law that will stifle industrialization should be reviewed to ensure it does not kill what we already have” ,Kibicho said.

But Kenya’s PS to the EAC David Nalo said the manufacturing sector has needless fear since the Bill only seeks to regulate the use of polythene and not plastics.

“Out of the numerous meetings I have chaired, the position of the Kenya government is that the Bill was not found to be against the EAC Treaty or Kenya’s Constitution. The Bill is not about plastics, which most of the manufacturers in Kenya are involved in, but rather the menace caused by polythene on the environment,” PS Nalo said.

However, the Bill is vehemently opposed by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers{KAM} whose stand is against the enactment of the Bill is its current form, saying it will affect more than 5,000 people in employment and affect tax remittance to the tune of Kshs 1.5 billion per year.

“Businesses in Kenya stand to lose investment worth over Kshs 43 billion if a Bill seeking to ban use of polythene material in the EAC is passed,” said betty Maina the KAM’s CEO.

Ms Maina said the Bill should be reviewed to ensure production of polythene material is not banned. Instead, EALA legislators should focus the Bill on encouraging correct consumer behavior since recycled plastic has many uses, including construction of roads and making of bottle tops.

“The Bill does not propose economically viable alternatives to the use of polythene packaging. It is naive to ban a useful product on basis of pollution, rather than regulate consumer behavior and conduct as is in the case of advanced economies such a the UK,”Ms Maina said.

But the mover of the motion, EALA’s Rwanda member Hajabakiga argued that the Bill is about managing waste rather than production of polythene materials.

In Rwanda we have banned the use of plastics and the effects are clear for all to see. Our capital City, Kigali is today one of the cleanest cities in the region partly because of the banning of use of polythene,” Hajabakiga said.

EAC partner states have up to 15th this month to finalize proposals on the Bill.

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Kenya: President Obama’s Kenyan family home has been placed under tight police security watch as fears persist of possible attack by Somali terrorists

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

FOLLOWING the recent military incursion into Southern Somalia territory to flush out the armed Islamist extremists members of the Al-Qaeda backed Al-Shaab militias; the rural country hoe home at Nyang’oma, Alego Kogelo in Siaya County has been placed under tight police security watch.

Visitors to the home of the 88-year old Mama Sarah Obama, the step grand mother of the US President Barack Obama from now onward will have to get security clearance from the local District Commissioner’s office based in Siaya town abut 10 kilometers to the west.

The Obamas rural home is located about 80 kilometers west of Kisumu City. The home has recently been the center of visitors and tourist attraction n the region ever since Mama Sarah Obama grand son won the US presidency of the United States a couple of years ago,

The local police chief Stepen Cheteka confirmed at the weekend that Mama Sarah is among he crucial areas now placed under police close watch against possible attack by Al-Shabaab terrorist network.

A visit made by this writer at the weekend revealed that security has been enhanced in and around Siaya district with police put on alert to watch over the Kogelo village home where President Obama’s Kenyan family members live for fear that Somali terrorist might target Mama Sarah Obama and members of her immediate family.

The Officer Commanding Police Division {OCPD] Cheteka confirmed that security have been beefed and are on high alert to watch on strangers around Nyang’oma Kogelo village.

The OCPD pointed out that the police cannot rule out the possibility that that Al-Shabaab can attack the Kogelo village home of the Obamas.”That is the reason why police officer will remain on high alert,” he added.

President Obama’s younger brother Said Obama was quoted by the local media houses last week as having made it clear that the family has so far not received any threat and that they were living the normal life like any other villagers around,” he said adding that there is cause of alarm..

Local observers, however, maintained that the issue has been overblown out of proportion and that there was no risk security around Siaya district and Kogelo village in particular.

Of course fear persist I many parts of Kenyan that Al-Shabaab terrorist group in Somalia has widely spread network with agents everywhere inside Kenya and such attacks cannot be ruled out and simply dismissed as phantom.

Towns In most Western Kenya regions security have been tightened around important government installations and institutions, and even in private enterprises such as supermarket, hotels, country buses and all places of social amenities.

Visitors to major hotels in Nakuru, Eldoret, Kericho and Kisumu have to pass through the electronic devices security check-ups before being ushered into the facilities.

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Kenya: Major cultural and sporting events planned for homa-By for Xmas and end of the year

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

HOMA-bay will be the beehive of the end of the year festivities involving cultural an sporting meeting the first time of it kind for the Lake side town which is expected to be the administrative headquarters of the region within the next few months.

The sporting festival will include the lunching of the Homa-Bay Star a football clubs, which will be able to compete with teams from other counties and even with the teams playing in the national football league countrywide

Participating teams are expected from all the six parliamentary constituencies of Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay, Karachuonyo , Kasipul and Kabondo.

The cultural activities will include discussions, tribal dances, canoe regatta, music festival and other activities. It is hoped that this festivities will bring together the people of Homa-Bay County, one of the largest in the region.

The festival is the brainchild of Dr. Mark Matunga, an executive with the Microsoft International computer company. Matunga, who hails from Mbita district, is one of the front runners for the race for the elective post of the Homa-Bay County governorship.

Dr Matunga is the patron of the event which kicks off on the boxing day December 26, 2011 and ending on December 31st 2011.

Thousands of people who will be relaxing at heir rural homes during the Christmas and New Year festivities are expected to be in Homa-Bay town and this will give a boost to the business community such as taxis drivers, boda boda motor bike taxis, hotels etc. Thereafter the festival will be an annual calendar event.

Dr Matunga said his infant organization will mount intensive publicity so that it could attract participants from other counties in the neighboring regions. The participants are primarily expected to come from all corners of Homa-Bay County stretching from the far eastern end of Kabondo to the far western end in Mbita and Gwassi district.

The region has received two new parliamentary constituencies which include the sub-division of Rangwe and Kasipul Kabondo giving the region two more constituencies bringing the to total to seven. Some regions are rich in cultural activities such as the famous Kochia and Karachuoyo traditional dancers

The festival steering committee met at Homa-Bay town over the weekend to strategize and brainstorm on the final touches of the festivities.

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Kenya & Uganda: Kenyan MPS want their government to declare Uganda as a hostile and unfriendly neighbor

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

On Tuesday this week an interesting debate took place inside Kenyan Parliament where several MPs stood up in a flurry of supplementary questions demanded that the government should declare Uganda under President Yoweri Museveni as unfriendly, but be categorized as a hostile neighbor.

The issue came up during questions time in the House when MPS who rose to ask supplementary questions demanded for a permanent and long term solution to constant harassment of Kenyan citizens.

MPS John Mbadi {Gwassi}. Rachel Chebesh {Nominated} and Mohammed Afrey {Dujis} refused to accept an assurance given by Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka that Uganda has been behaving as a friendly country.

The Kenyan MPS questioned why Uganda has been arresting Kenyan frequently and then releasing them without preferring any criminal charges against them.

The matter came up when Afrey demanded to know the status of two MSF Switzerland Kenyan employees, Musa Hassan and John Lodong who were recently arrested by Uganda and detained on June 30, 2011 on suspicion of being Al-Shabaab Islamist terrorist group were later released without being charged in a court of law.

The Kenyan government, they MPS insisted has been too apologetic on Uganda however much unfriendly it has been to “our people.” Rather than side with the people, the government is always siding with Uganda,”

Onyonka, however, said the two Kenyans were released on police bond and charges were later dropped after investigations revealed that they had committed no crime.

The Minister insisted that it was a friendly country and that it had committed itself to observe the rule of law in dealing with Kenyans.

Asked how many Kenyans were currently in the custody of Ugandan authorities, the Minister said there are no records available to show that.

The Minister reminded the MPS how it is important for Kenya to maintain friendly relations Uganda, which its biggest trading partner and a neighbor.

“It is always a fact that it is Uganda which s harassing us” What are he long term solution to this happenings? This is because the issue of friendliness is an excuse.

They are very unfriendly,” shouted John Mbadi the Gwassi MPs whose constituents have been going under the harrowing experience with Ugandan authorities. Gwassi constituency which is among the several parliamentary constituencies in which are neighboring Uganda through Lake Victoria.

A week hardly passed without a reported incident whereby Uganda police ha seized fishermen in Lake Victoria long the Gwassi constituency shorelines.

The other constituency whose proximity to the borderline in Lake Victoria I Nyatike whose abrasive MP Edick Omondi Anyanga has quite often pleaded with the government for protection against arbitrary arrests of its constituents by Ugandan authority/A week a go three Kenyans fishermen spent a couple of days In Uganda after they were seized while fishing around the hotly disputed Migingo Island.

The men spent a couple of days in the custody of Ugandan police, but as they being release to go home, the Uganda marine police on the patrol around Migingo and Ugingo Island has seized another bunch of Kenya fishermen who they accused of trespassing into their territorial waters. In such incidents Kenyan fishermen loses their fishing gears including nets and boats as we as their catches.

“We are getting irritated especially those of us who represented the border areas,”shouted John Mbadi.

But the Minister insisted that only through diplomatic channels a lasting solution could be found.

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Kenya government has scored “A – Plus” for work well done in road network inside Luo-Nyanza

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

ANY sane person who is conversant with the traveling across Nyanza Province would definitely agree with me in principles that the Kenya government has done wonders in key area of economic infrastructure.

The key areas include road networking at highway levels, rural electrification and communications system. These are the key areas of economic growth and development in general.

Rural electrification has gone very well as planned. In fact in most districts and particularly constituencies, the residents are now enjoying the usage of power in their homes, schools and all government institutions.

Telephone communications network is now everywhere. Thanks to the several networks providing mobile phone service providers companies, one can now even phone to a friend in far a field like Ringiti and Migingo fishing Islands in side Lake Victoria.

At the present time, most district headquarters in this region could be reached on tarmacked roads and / or on well maintained good and all weather roads.
Inside Luo-Nyanza, the recent construction of an ultra modern Ndori-Luanda Kotieno beach in Rarieda district is a milestone of good planning and excellence engineering work taking into account some portion of bad land terrain on the side of Asembo locations.

This particular road has since become a good asset to he residents of Suba region of Mbita and Gwassi districts. It also provides quick links to the numerous big and small fishing islands, which are scattered all over Lake Victoria.

A drive in an ordinary motor vehicle, which used to take a couple of hours between Kisumu City and Luanda Kotieno, has now been reduced to between 40 minutes and an hour. The same good work is supplemented with the recent re-carpeting of Kisumu-Bondo-Usenge road.

Another important road worth mentioning is the Katito-Kendu-Bay and Kendu-Bay-Homa-Bay road. It will wind up in Mbita Town when the on-going construction of Homa-Bay Mbita road is completed in due course; the work is very much in advanced stage.

The re-carpeting of Rongo-Homa-Bay road is a big credit to the government and its planners and those in-charge of the implementation process, who are of course is the Road Ministry under the able leadership of Hon Franklin Bett as the Minister in-charge And again the extension of the branching off at Rodi Kopany to Sori in Karungu-Bay is worth praise.

A further important development of road network is the on-going construction of a new road from Misori in Uyoma west location traversing via Bondo town, crossing River Yala into Siaya Town and winding up at Rang’ala in Ugenya constituency near Uganja town in Ugunja district.

Also envisaged to under go the construction is the Mbita, Sindo, Magunga and Sori road. The road network in these areas which were previously considered as the remotest part of the region was announced last month by he Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

While addressing a mammoth crowd of mourners during the tearful sending off the former Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Michael George Okeyo, at his Kaswanga village home in Rusinga Island the PM also hinted that the construction of the same road may b extended to cover Karungu-Muhuru-Bay in Nyatike district.

It could be remembered by many older Kenyans that during the post-independence cabinet headed by the founding President the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta had planned to construct all weather road along the entire of the shorelines of Lake Victoria.

The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development’s docket under the late Tom Mboya had announced in one of his many economic blueprints that the construction of such road was to commence at Rwambwa in Bunyala, Budalangi constituency and traverse as a ring road along the lakes side.

Mboya died in a hail of bullets fired by an assassin in July 1969 and these plans were shelved and kept back in the drawing board. However, some of the plans such as the construction of Katito-Kendu-Bay-Homa-Bay and Mbita as well Rongo-Homa-Bay and Rodi Kopany Sori roads were implemented, though much later.

Mboya had put up a strong argument at the time saying that such a road would be very crucial for the national security of Kenya or for rapid deployment of security personnel in the event a hostile ruler coming into power in one of the neighboring counties of Tanzania and Uganda.

The government, however, stands blamed for failing to adequately supervising the millions of shillings it had allocated to District Road Boards to serve in constructing and maintaining feeder and access roads within the various parliamentary constituencies.

However, with the recent dissolution of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission {KACC}and untimely removal of its hard working executive director PLO Lumumba, millions of shillings set aside for the feeder and access roads traversing constituencies will go into the dustbins and remains unaccounted for.

The district road money is under the district road engineer and the MPs representing the various constituencies within a given district in the same fashion like the CDF.

In some constituencies a good work done is visible to anybody on a visit. A good example of the government revolving funds being put into proper use could be seen in Alego-Usonga constituency where Siaya Boro Nyadorera road has been constructed, and now a motorist can driver from Siaya via Uranga, Nyadorera and cross River Nzoia into Budalangi constituency. In the same trip one can easily drive from Uranga or Uradi mission via Hawinga back to Siaya following the route below Obambo Hills and Via Yala Swamp Rice project and back to Siaya town.

The credit goes of the area incumbent MP Edwin OchiengYinda. town. The same good work and credit goes to Kasipul-Kabondo MP Joseph Oyugi Magwangs, Karachuonyo MP Eng.James K Rege, Ndhiw MP Joshu Orwa Ojode, Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga, Migori MP John Pesa,Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’Nyakach MP Polins Ochng Daima,Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and Bondo MP Dr Oburu Oginga

But the work which is not very credible could be seen in constituencies like Muhoroni, Nyando, Rangwe,Rarieda, Kisumu Rural, Kisumu Town West, Kisumu Town East, Uriri and Nyando.

In one particular constituency, which I cannot mention here owing to legal complication and process, the rumor goes that the area MP after having seen millions of shillings deposited into his constituency’s road account immediately rushed into forming his own road construction company with his wife as its chairman and managing director and awarded all road construction work contract to himself.

All the money meant for road construction and maintenance in the rural constituency which is located in greater Southern Nyanza it is being alleged to be unaccounted for. It is being alleged that huge sums of money was paid for the road construction work which was never done. And that this MP in particular is among those who were reported to have burnt their midnight lamps plotting for the disbanding of the KACC.

Reports and rumors making the round says that the KACC was disbanded when its sleuths were actively investigating where the road money had gone to and who benefited from it, because all the feeder an access roads in this constituency have remained unrepaired for close to four years and even became impassable.

It would be good and to the satisfaction of the taxpayers if the government could re-launch investigations to unearth the scam and punished whoever benefited unfairly from the money meant for road repair work in this particular constituency where the MP and other collaborating agents are said to have become millionaires over night. But all the roads remained in a pathetic state, and yet the money has already been spent.

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KENYANS WANT THEIR MP’S SALARIES REDUCED BY HALF AND THE NUMBER OF THE CABINET MEMBERS ALSO CUT BY HALF TO RELIEVE THE COUNTRY OF HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

KENYANS want President Mwai Kibaki, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to reduce the number of people accompanying them on foreign trips to cut the costs of their travels.

They also want the two principals in the coalition government to reduce the Cabinet to 24. The cost maintaining the bloated grand coalition is too high.

There are 42 ministries and about 100 and assistant ministers – the largest cabinet in the history of the country.

In a report of the cost of living prepared by Parliamentary Select committee chaired by Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba, which is due to be debated in the House this week, Kenyans also reported to want salaries and allowances paid to the MPs slashed by half.

Already leaked into the public domain by thee Nairobi daily paper, THE STAR, the report says that the majorit if the Kenyans want the government to implement austarity including reduction of the number of foreign trips made by MPs and cabinet ministers, and enforcing the law for them to pay taxes on their allowances and salaries.

If implemented, government will reduce its expenditure and direct the money to the provision of basic needs like food and health services.

The parliamentary committee was formed in May in response to widespread public outcry over the unprecedented spiral in inflation and a sharp rise in the cost of fuel and foodstuff.

The committee’s primary mandate was to inquire into the factors behind the high cost of living and recommend the way forward.

“The committee heard that the large cabinet was contributing to the high cost of living among Kenyans and salaries paid to the MPs were very high It further heard that a lot of government revenue is used by MPS and cabinet ministers in unnecessary foreign travel”, the report said.

A Kenyan MP is earning a salary and allowance totaling Kshs 851,000 the, biggest in the Commonwealth and even supersedes what a member of the House of Common in the Uk is earning. So the Kenyan public wants it reduced by half and to not exempt from tax.

The head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Muhaura, who appeared before the committee, said that the cost of running the government did not have any effect on the rising cost of living if the number of employees in it remained unchanged.

The government on its part blames the Parliamentary Service Commission for increasing the foreign travel allowance to MPs which has in turn made cabinet ministers and their assistants also demand an increase in their allowances.

The Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry, Titus Ndambuki, said the PSC’s decision had led to “revolt” in the cabinet.

Some of the favorite destinations by MPs are away in the UK, UAE and South Africa, Singapore, and Sweden. An allowance for traveling MPs was raised from Kshs 32,000{USD 525} to Kshs 100,000 {USD 1,000} per day.

The increase of the allowances saw parliamentary’ budget allocations for foreign trips shoot from Kshs 289 million last year to KJshs 379 million this year.

There has been heated debate by civil society vehemently opposed to numerous foreign trips and increases of MPs and Ministers salaries and allowances arguing these increases were uncalled for and burdening the Kenyan taxpayers.

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KENYA: JACK NDURI REFUTES THE ALLEGATION AND RUMOR ABOUT HIS TUJU CONNECTIONS

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Written By Jack Nduri,
Forwarded by Leo Odera Omolo

KARACHUONYO ODM supremo, Mr. Jack Nduri, is set to recapture his seat with ease during the forth coming party grassroots polls following new developments that puts incumbent MP, Eng. James Rege in awkward position.

The pull out from the ODM race by Rege’s preferred candidate, Mr. Ezra Odondi Opar, he of the Kendu Bay Big Five fame- has seriously punctured the MP’s vision in party and future leadership of the constituency.

Even with the backlash, sacked Marie Stopes Kenya Director, Mr. Cyprian Awiti is steadily edging towards Rege in a bid to revenge against the all powerful and youthful Nduri for disowning him in his quest for governorship at the Homa Bay County.

Cyprian whose popularity has waned steadily over the years is said to have lost grounds to an extent he cannot even garner 40 percent of voters in his own Kobuya Location. Instead statistics show that his arch rival Mr. Hippo Komutho has confined him to his own clan where he is also reeling from rejection for failing to assist or even employ his close relatives during his stint in different portfolios.

Indications are that all those who had been lined up by the MP to challenge Nduri for the chair during the abortive elections in May this year have all dropped their ambitions and it is not clear who the MP and his new found comrade Cyprian would front.

Other than Opar who has ditched politics to concentrate in his family and business another perennial loser who had been lined up by the MP to quash Nduri’s chances of retaining the seat – a Mr. George Rachuonyo – whose roots can be traced to Karungu in Nyatike District has also quit the race giving flimsy reasons.

However a contented Nduri last weekend met ODM delegates drawn from all the 22 Locations in Karachuonyo and who confirmed their willingness to back him for the post of constituency chairman.

The delegates expressed their confidence on Mr. Nduri’s leadership saying the youthful leader had transformed party leadership in the constituency under “extremely” difficult circumstances.

They dismissed those spreading falsehood on Nduri’s political standing as idlers and self seekers whose tactics were ancient and would not deter the constituents from re-electing Nduri. They said no amount of intimidation or propaganda would dent Nduri’s image as his unrivalled contribution to the development of ODM in Karachuonyo speaks for itself.

Our investigations have established that a number of big wigs from Karachuonyo among them Dr. Adhu Awiti, Mr. Donny Opar, Mr. Adipo Okuome, Mr. John Abila, Dr. Vincent Orinda, trade unionist Bolo Awach, former MP Dr. (Mrs.) Phoebe Asiyo and Mombasa businessman Mr. Hezron Awiti (HABO) are working closely with Nduri in the wake of a combined opposition from Rege and Cyprian.

Nduri whose network of friends surpasses the boundaries of Karachuonyo also enjoy the support of influential Luo personalities in the civil service and private sector who have quietly been prodding his back during times of difficulties.

Incidentally Nduri who is a renowned journalist and philanthropist won the party chairmanship position against Rege’s then preferred candidate Mr. Samson Oyala and without the support from Cyprian.

His twin NGOs, Rachuonyo Development and Relief Project and Kenya Youth Sports Initiative is currently awash with resources which he carefully uses to roll out development programs in the constituency, working with Youths and Women groups in areas of sports, environment and health.

A close look at the unfolding developments in Karachuonyo shows that even Rege himself is not in a hurry to embrace Cyprian following his waning popularity in both Karachuonyo and Kasipul Kabondo which are his home constituencies.

Rege is instead working closely with Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo who is also eying the Homa Bay Governor’s seat.

According to leaders and residents of Karachuonyo the former Marie Stopes boss has resorted to fighting Nduri in Kadwet at the expense of his wider ambition of becoming governor of Homa Bay.

“ He has instead resorted to fighting Nduri in Karachuonyo…he uses a few disgruntled political cohorts to send defamatory text messages about Nduri and those perceived to be his critics but we will remain focused on party development. If anything Cyprian has not even joined ODM either as ordinary or life member as you can confirm from Orange House. For as long as he still associates with Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Riaga Ogallo, he is wasting time, “said former Councilor Obel Ogindo.

Among the leading lights in the contest for governorship in Homa Bay are ODM Elections Board chairman Eng. Philip Okundi, Microsoft boss Mark Matunga, Career parastatal chief Agutu Jakorayo and University Don Prof. Akeyo Omolo.

The battle between Nduri and Cyprian has effectively diverted attention from the normal politics, giving Rege a lease of life and it is said Rege enjoys every bit of it as it is widely believed Cyprian has been behind all his political troubles.

It is said the MP has mentioned in many foras that he was ready to lose his parliamentary seat as an independent individual that to sink with Cyprian.

Canadian firm is to develop Buckreef mine in Tanzania following the lastest multimillion dollar deal

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

The Buckreef gold mine will restart operation after 17 years following a USD 280 million deal with Tanzania’s State Mining Corporation has entered into Canadian gold explorers, Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation.

Information emerging from Dar e Salaam say, the move is in line with the new Mining Policy and Mining Act 2010 which allow s the government to take an active role in mining by owning shares in the business concerns.

“We aim at a win win situation reflected in a national and fair revenue sharing from the mining and energy sectors,” said Deputy Minister for Energy and minerals Adam Malima.

The state-owned mining company, known as Stamico, will hold a 45 per cent of the shares while the remaining will be owned by Tanzanian 2000, a subsidiary of the Canadian company.

Malima was quote by the local press as saying that the government was actively engaged in mining activities after the enforcement of the law. The Buckreef goldmine is estimated to have deposits amounting to1,450 million ounces.

“Exploration is still underway to determine whether there are more deposits at the site”,said Minister Malima.

He explained that the company had already requested the ministry to enlarge the mining site from the current four square kilometers to 16 square kilometers..

According to Ally Samaje, the acting Commissioner for Minerals at the Ministry, Stamico closed down the mine after failing to properly manage the costly mining operations. The mine was closed in 1994 and since then Stamico has been scouting for a strategic partner to re-develop the facility,” said Samaje.

Tanzania 2000 will have 30 months to complete a research and feasibility study that will cost USD 20 million.

The mining sector in Tanzania currently contribute about 2.3 per cent of the GDP, which is projected to rise to 10 per cent in 2003.The joint venture comes as the Tanzanian government plans to raise royalty payments on gold exports by the end of this year.

The country’s Minister for Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja disclosed the government has already reached an agreement with mining companies to raise royalty payments from the current 3 per cent to 4 per cent.

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KENYA: THE NEWLY REALIGNED RANGWE CONSTITUENCY IS MINERAL RICH AND COULD TURN THE GREATER SOUTHERN NYANZA REGION AROUND

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In RongoTown

The creation of a separate parliamentary constituency mainly for Homa-Bay town and its environs will now easy pressure of development activities for the older larger Rangwe electoral area.

Previously all the development activities were concentrating in areas along the Lake Victoria, especially areas around Homa-Bay town and its environs.

The reason being so is the fact that nearly all he previous MPS, with exception of Dr. Shem Ochuodho brief stint in the August House between 1992 and 1997, came from around the lake shorelines. They include Prof Ouma Muga (1988-190), Ray Oloo Ndong,’ {1990 -1992}, Prof Ouma Muga {1992-1997}, Dr Shem Ochuodho {1997-2002}, Eng Phillip Okundi {2002=2007} and the incumbent Martin Otieno Ogindo 2007.

The separation of Homa-Bay town and its environs still has left Rangwe as one of the largest rural constituencies in the greater Southern Nyanza region covering half a dozen of Administration Locations, stretches from Oluch –Nyangweso at the northern tip in an area bordering Rangwe and Karachuonyo constituencies.

Rangwe is now covering locations such as Gongo, Kagan East and Kagan West, Kochia East and Kochia West, Gem East, Gem Central and Gem West. Most of these farming administrative rural locations are lying in areas previously neglected, but highly potential for agricultural development, and massive production.

The upper part of the constituency, particular from the boundary of Bonchari on the Kisii side, along he Riana Valley is said to be holding massive deposits but untapped wealth in the precious stones {Gold}. These areas which are close to River Riana which wounding up and flow its water into River Kuja {Gold}.

The gold deposits which is said to be of commercial value runs underneath of both some parts of Rangwe and neighboring Rongo constituencies. It starts from Go Nyinyo in Kamwango sub-Location in North Kamagambo run down to Oboke Market in Rangwe down to opapo in Ndhiwa.

This particular area covering River Riana valley winding up at Marindi Trading Center has also potential for sugar cane growing apart from the cash crops such as maize, vegetable, sorghum, coffee and other domestic crops. Several investors both local and international companies have been reported to have shown interests in establishing a new medium size white sugar manufacturing plant around Opapo. The areas mentioned has the best annual rainfall, which is conducive for massive production.

However, a young Nairobi based entrepreneur has come forward with a far reaching plans and strategy to develop the agro-based small cottage manufacturing industries, which is sounding viable.

Eng Joseph Mboya Nyamuthe, who hails from Gem West location within Rangwe constituency, has already established one agro-based industry, which is manufacturing sweet potatoes.The plant is at Ndiru in Kagan Central.

Photo of Eng Joseph Mboya who is trying hard to creaet jobs for the youths by launching agro-based manufacturing plants in Rangwe

Mboya Nyamuthe who announced last week that he would be vying for the Rangwe parliamentary seat hitherto was unknown character and personality in Rangwe, though he has been carrying out feasibility studies on various cash crops and their economic values to the community.

He said h was happy that the residents of Central an parts of Kochia West have resolved to go full blast in pineapple crops, and although already one plan is in the process of being put in place, there will be the need in the near future to have a much bigger pineapple squeezing plant. Pineapple grown in Kochia area has proved to b popular with the hotels an family tables all over Kenya.

He said the greatest impediment is the access and feeder roads across the constituency. Nobody has pressurized he government to construct the highly potential Oyugis Rangwe road. This road is vital because farmer could easily access market places outside the constituency.

The Rangwe -Rodi-Kopany also need to be tarmacked so as to have it linked to the main Homa-Bay-Rongo road. Also needed to be upgraded is Rangwe- Asumbi-Sunika road, and Rangwe Oboke-Rongo road. But priority should be given to Oyugis-Rangwe and Rangwe-Rodi Kopany road.

Rasidents of Rangwe, said Eng ,Mboya Nyamuthe are wondering about where the millions of shillings located for the district road maintenance goes, and yet Oyugis Rangwe road has remained impassable at time even pathetic for close to five years. On the side of Kasipul Kabondo then this road is perfect, but once a motorist crosses into Rangwe constituency then it became nightmarish.

Cotton is another economically important crop, though it has been neglected in he past efforts should be made to have this money minting crops back in production.

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KENYA: THE VOTERS IN HOMA-BAY COUNTY URGED TO VOTE ONLY FOR FOCUSED LEADERS WHO WILL WORK HARD TO REDUCE THE HIGH POVERTY INDEX IN THE REGION.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The electorates in Homa-Bay County have been urged to cast their votes widely during the impending general election so as to ensure that only focused leaders who will work hard to eradicate the abject poverty among the population in the region will win office.

One of the leading contenders for the position of the County Senate representative Hilary Ochieng’ Alila while speaking at a fund drive in aid of Oyugis Central SDA Church in Rachuonyo South district within the Homa-Bay County, he decried the highest poverty index in the region.

Alila strongly refuted the rumor making the round that he had withdrawn from the Senate race. He said he had travelled outside the country for an important business mission, and ha since returned and has effectively resumed his campaign I earnest.

Alila donate Kshs 40,000, while another aspirant or the Homa-Bay County governor gave Kshs 35,000, the area MP Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga sent Kshs 10,000, a retire Kenya Army Captain John Omolo gave Kshs 50,000 while the retired former Country Representative of Marrie Stoppie Clinics Cyprian Otieno Awiti who is also vying for the governor position and who was the Chief guest sent Kshs 20,000, Tom Sipul of the KWS gave Kshs 20,000.with a message of apology.

The contest for the Senate seat for Homa-Bay County is pitting Alila against the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Otieno Kajwng’ and the former Kasipul-Kabondo MP William Oloo Otula.

Addressing the function Alila urged the residents of Kasipul-Kabondo and all those Luos whose rural homes are located I areas neighboring other communities like the Abagusii, Kalenjins, Maasais, Nandis, Luhyias and Kuria to cultivate the true spirit of friendship and peaceful co-existence.

He said by doing so they {Luos} could successfully persuade and convince their neighbors to join he ODM in heir thousands and vote for the party leader Raila Odinga to realize his presidential ambition in 2012. ”Every one single vote is so important for “Agwambo” to capture the presidency, so please do sell the party wherever you go and even when you me t your women folk at market places.

He said Raila Odinga is committed reformist whose presidency could turn the country around and make Kenya happy place to live and work in. He has a clear vision for development, while his opponents are thriving on politics of malice and opportunism.

The electorate should read carefully the various conflicting and confusing statements and public utterances by Raila’s opponents in the presidential race most of it based on malice and political damaguegry. This is a clear testimony that none of them has any development agenda in mind apart from bashing the Prime Minister in every chance that comes their way.

The wise Kenyan people have already been in a position to verified the utterances of some of the presidential hopeful and have concluded that those who have ganged up in the amorphous so-called G7 alliance are not worthy their salt. It is good the Prime Minister has kept his coolness and only making statements which are worthy a man of statesmanship of his caliber, and status

“This is a sign of political maturity and good leadership. And we must all in the ODM as the only mass political movement with the support of all Kenya across the ethnicity an tribal boundaries.”Said Alila.

On Sunday Alila was among the guests during the ordination of Bishop Moses Odhiambo Abiga at Ufira Miracle Gospel Church at Kamasengre in Rusinga West Location, Mbita district within Homa-Bay County.

The ordination ceremony was conducted by Bishop Paul Wandera from Uganda who is the had o this Church in East Africa. Also in attendance was former Mbita MP George Osingo Migure, he Deputy Chairman of the Luo Council of Elder Ex-Senior Chief Omolo Anditi and the chairman of the Suba Council of Elders Mzee Apllo Okeyo Omuga.

Alila assured his supporters that he is very much in the race for the Homa-Bay Coty and also that he would be contesting one of the senior most branch election of the ODM in Homa-Bay County when the election is called.;

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KENYA: ENG. MBOYA NYAMUTHE JOINS THE RACE FOR THE ELECTION BATTLE FOR RANGWE PARLIAMENTARY SEAT IN 2012.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

The Rangwe Parliamentary seat has attracted yet another high profile aspirant with the vision to turn around the otherwise sleeping rural electoral constituency.

Rangwe constituency is located with the Homa-Bay district in Homa-Bay county and the new entrant into the race Eng.Joseph Mboya Nyamuthe, a youthful business tycoon with the highest profile is expected to give the other aspirants the run for their money.

PHOTO OF ENG. JOSEPH MBOYA NYAMUTHE.

Already the 41 year Uganda and Cameroun educated civil engineer has already established a plant that is processing sweet potatoes at Ndiru in Kagan Location, and he is the process of establishing a cassava processing factory in Gem Location within Rangwe constituency. All these plants meant automatic creation of jobs for the youths.

Nyamuthe is the son of a prominent former journalist the late Peter Nyamuthe who worked with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in different capacities for many years. He hail from Central Gem .

Born in 1970, Nyamuthe took his early education in Nairobi before moving o the neighboring Uganda where h completed his “A” level studies and move on to Younde Cameroun where studied civil engineering course.

He has since established his own engineering firm called Global RTE Kenya Ltd and another business flagship called JB Construction Ltd, all located in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The incumbent Rangwe MP is Martin Otieno Ogindo who has since switched himself from defending his seat in Parliament and declared that he would contest for the position of the Homa-Bay County governor,

Nyamuthe said his vision is to turn the agriculturally rich constituency into a bastion of food grains as part of the concerted effort to support the government food security program.”We are going to explore every part of the constituency sample the soil and find out which crops if suitable for which place.

“Cotton is one of the greatest assets in the area, though it production has been dwindling for some years now.” Said Nyamuthe.

Other food crops which could be turned into money minting crops include sweet potatoes, pineapples, groundnut, cassava, maize and sorghum which is said to be popular with breweries companies as well as those firm which are distilling ethanol for fuel.

The constituency has the shortest shoreline in Lake Victoria, but fishing and fish trade is thriving and he would encourage those trade as well as promoting tourism to the pre-historic sites, and also to the nearby Ruma National Game Park, which is, though, administratively in Mbita district, and is located only 23 kilometers from Homa-Bay Town.

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Six more gold miners die when a 12 feet deep mine pit walls caved in killing them instantly

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Two brothers were among the six gold mine diggers who perished in a fresh mining incident when the 12 feet deep gold mine walls caved in.

The incident occurred at Nyamome Village in Nyabisawa location, Suba West Division, Migori district within the County of Migori.

The latest deaths bring to 13 the number of people who have died of the gold mines related accidents within three weeks within the greater Southern Nyanza region.

In the first incident three people died while the fourth person ho was pulled out of the rubbles’ unconscious has also been reported to have died in hospital. The first incident took place in Nyatike district, but also within Migori County.

The third incident in which a white foreigner, suspected to be the investor, died while making a concerted effort to pull out the bodies of his dead workers took place at Nyahera area of Central Kasipul in the Rachuonyo South district within Homa-Bay County.

In this particular incident, the mine wall did not caved in, but the worker had gone in to the hole with power generator water pump to pump out water which had filled the pit. The engine developed mechanical problem following the fuel leakage which burnt the fresh air and the men simply could not breathe and all suffocated and died.

In another gold mining related death three people were buried alive when the mine they were working on caved in killing the three instantly and seriously injuring one at Kanyasrega in Sakwa North Location, Awendo district also within Migori County.

The police in Rongo district had hinted that they would mobilize the people to ensure that all the gold mine pits are covered to avoid more deaths.

In the first incident in Nyamome village, only five kilometers south west of Migori town, the word had gone around that the huge gold deposit in the area attracting close to more than 200 prospectors, some of them travelling from distant places far away from Migori town.

Migori deputy police Chief James Mwangi was among he first senior government officials to arrive at the scene of the accident, which took place on Monday at 11AM. It occurred after about twelve miners had worked in the pit for close to eight hours. The miners entered into the pit against the backdrop of the warning that following the incessant downpour of heavy rains the ground was weak and as such the mines wall stand the risk of caving in.

The police said ten men were working in the mine pit, and effort to rescue the four who remained missing were under way, though the rescuer were using crude equipment such as jembes and spades,

One survivor told newsmen that he had warned his colleagues to steer clear of the mine pit and not t go much deeper because the ground was wet and weak, but none could hear of his advice.

Migori and Nyatike are mineral rich region of the greater Southern Nyanza. Before independence in 1962 several full fledged mines were operational, one at Masara and the other one perhaps the largest, at Macalder gold and copper as well as nickel thrives. But the white mining experts left in a huff fearing that free Kenya could turn chaotic in the same fashion like it happened in the Congo a few years earlier.

Also in Kuria there was a gold mine in Kehancha and also in neighboring Trans-Mara district at Lolgorien and Nyamongo. Another thriving and most important gold mine was located at Kitere on the site where Moi University campus now stand. The departing white managers, however, left the country in huff and never thought of having the mine pit sealed to avoid accidental death by the locals and domestic animals. Most of the facilities were established during the “Big Gold Rush” of the 1930s.

Both Migori and Kuja Rivers are also reported rich in alluvial gold prompting illegal prospecting by locals using crude means.

A number of local and foreign companies are currently prospecting for minerals in Migori, Rongo and Homa-Bay regions, which are believes to be rich in minerals including uranium, cement and limes.

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EAC COUNTRIES WAIVE WORK PERMIT FEES TO RESIDENTS SEEKING TO WORK AND TO INVEST IN THE MEMBER STATES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Work permit fees for the East African citizens wishing to work or invest in member countries have been waived as required by the East African Community Common Market Protocol on free movement of labor and services in the region.

This is aimed at attracting skilled workers promoting investment, improving tourism and enhancing national security in the region.

According to Kenyan Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’, EAC citizens visiting Kenya will now be allowed to stop for a period of up to six months without restriction from the previous maximum three months they were initially allowed to stay.

“For the Kenyan traveling to the other EAC countries, they can now obtain their travel documents at a fee of USD 4 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Busia, Namanga, Lungalunga, Taveta and at Isebania border posts that are now open for 24hours,”said the Minister.

Only Rwanda and Kenya had a bilateral agreement on free movement of people, where citizens were issued with travel documents for duration of six months while for the other member states travel documents were issued for three months.

The work permit gives the employees the right to residence with members of his family in other country, unless the members are not East African citizens

“We are exploring the possibility of harmonizing of the national identity cards once Uganda and Tanzania starts issuing identity cards for the citizens to move freely across the region,” said the Minister. Only Kenya and Rwanda are currently using machine readable and electronic national identity cards as travel documents and Uganda is joining the two soon.”

The, “third generation” national identity cards and anticipated to be in operation next year will help identify the holder as dual citizens of their home country and of East African. The cards will reduce the clearance time at the borders to a maximum of three minutes.

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Kenya: Another bomb blast shook the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, within less than twenty four hours killing one man and injuring close to 30

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Within less than twenty four hours another blast went off in a crowded Bus Park injuring more than 30 people. The police have confirmed one man died in the in blast.

It is suspected that a hand grenade was thrown at a crowded bus ark were many people living in the east lands of Nairobi were waiting to catch buses for home after day long business in the Central Business district.

Eye witnesses said the grenade was thrown from a moving motor vehicle, and it targeted the crowded bus park on the racecourse road on of the areas usually busy during the evening rush hours when many people are milling around waiting to catch buses for home.

The second blast came within less than twenty four hours after the first grenade attack was thrown into a crowded bar and night club in down Town, on Mfangano road. Nine people who sustained minor injuries and were rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital where they were treated and later discharged to go home. Three of the victim’s one of them with badly damaged limp are still detained in the Hospital’s emergency wards.

In the first incident which took place at 1.30 A.M night guard at the facility told the Television news footage that someone had entered into the bar accompanied by a woman, but the man immediately disappeared into the darkness after throwing the grenade into the crowded by from outside.

The Police Commissioner Matthew Iteere later told the newsman last that the type of grenade used in the attack was a Russian made type A which is not commonly in use in Kenya.

Kenyans were unanimous that these series of attacks could be the work of Islamist extremist Al-Shabaab Somalis militia with close ties to Osma Bin Laden Al-qaeda terrorists.

The Somali militia had on Sunday issued threats that it would hit some targets inside Kenya as a revenge for Kenya military incursion deep into Southern region of Somalia. The region with its headquarter at Kismayu which is garrison town with sea port close to Kenya.

Kenya’s military jets have been pounding target deep into Somalia unchallenged thereby inflicting heavy causalities and sending the Al-Shababb rag-tag militias fleeing their previous stations.

The Al-Shabaab still control Kismayu and its environs, which they used as the major source of revenue, major root of supplies. The town is also known to be housing hundred of Somali piracy and criminal groups recently suspected to have been involved in kidnapping tourists in Kenya coastal tourists luxury sea front hotels, beaches and lodges. At the same time the Kenya Navy is maintaining a twenty four hours blockade of Kismayu.

It was, however, reported last night the troops of the UN/AU backed Interim Transitional Government combined with the au peacekeeping force are currently embroiled in the war are reportedly closing in on the Al-Shabaan last stronghold .

Reports of the latest grenade attack which occurred at around 8.p.local time is still very faint with some eye witnesses claiming they had counted for three person dead, but the police have insisted that only one died in the attack. The badly injured people were rushed to the various hospitals within the City.

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Africa & World: Libyan dictator’s fall a lesson to all despotic leaders the world over

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Fowarded By Leo Odera Omolo,
Written By John Bb Awiti Otange, a politician-cum-farmer

It is a reprieve and relief for our brothers and sisters in Libya and the rest of the World for the demise of a dictator and tyrant Libyan head of state Moammur Gaddafi

For the last 42 years in power, Gaddafi had built a strong army with sophisticated weapons and strong economic power to protect his rule. Gaddafi had little or no knowledge or influence on people’s power as being unstoppable. He believed on the rule of gun as a solution towards silencing his critics.

Gaddafi could not read the signs and the wave of political change across Africa. Just to name but a few, Egypt, Tunisia, and Ivory Coast. This was enough for a wise leader to sense that political change in Libya was not exceptional. Being adamant and insensitive to people’s power was the cause of heavy and unbearable price to the late Gaddafi.

The long time brewed acrimony by the rebels who were out to liberate Libyans from repressive measures and suppression by Gaddafi’s rule was the stigma to serious infliction on mutilated body harm whilst the captive was still alive and in the hands of captors.

‘Remember his last words were: ‘don’t shoot, don’t shoot; what did I do wrong to you’ why don’t you know what is wrong and what is good’ l have so much gold which l can offer to save my life.

His last words tell us that, death is inevitable. When his time reached, he could not use heavy military weapons, strong army and his economic power to save his life. As a human being he had to die as was planned by the almighty God, the God of Abraham, the God of Moses, Jacob, and David.

And it should always be remembered that what happened to Gaddafi can happen to any other leader in the World including African leaders who are anti democracy.

It is for this reason that we urge the few remaining African leaders who are anti democracy to read the signals of the people’s power. And we request them to embrace democracy in their countries otherwise they will end up like Gaddafi.

We pray to the Almighty God to rest his soul in eternal peace, meanwhile Libyans should begin to put proper structures in place for a true democratic society. We call upon the donor communities, World Bank, IMF, European council, to give financial support for quick economic recovery of Libya.

KENYA: THE SUBA COUNCIL OF ELDERS CRITICISED RAILA ODINGA FOR FAILING TO RECOGNIZE THE EXISTENCE OF THE COMMUNITY IN KENYA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town.

The Prime Minister Raila Oodinga has come under severest criticism for having failed to recognize the existence of the Luo-Abasuba community inside Luo-Nyanza.

Meeting at Sindo trading center in Kaksingiri Location, Gwassi constituency within Homa-Bay County the Suba Council of Elders led by their chairman Mzee Apollo Okeyo Omuga that it was time Raila Odinga to accept, acknowledge and recognize the existence of the Suba community.

The Suba elders accused the Prime Minister of trying to antagonize the Suba people with the aim and objective of marginalize them and hence his distortion of the community’s history in every funeral gathering as witnessed in the recent past.

It is time Raila Odinga to come to terms with the political realty the Suba community, a people numbering close to 100,00 do not owe their existence to him, but to the Almighty God the creator.

The community was recognized, and published in official gazette by the Kenya government under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi as an entity and there is nowhere the community can abandon their constitutional rights of existence.

Raila Odinga, while addressing a mammoth crowd of mourners during the tearful burial of the former Kenya’s envoy to the UN Ambassador Michael George Okeyo at his Kaswanga village home on Rusinga Island, rubbished the existence of a community called Abasuba, arguing that all those people claiming to be Suba were actually Luos and nothing else.

Odinga had brought along with him from Kisumu the chairman of the moribund Luo Council of Elders, Mzee Willis Opiyo Otondi, as assign of recognition to his group.

The Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister, Gerald Oteno Kajwang’, who was the master of ceremony, did not even mentioned the presence of a large number of Suba Council of Elders members who had travelled all from distance places like Mfangano Island, Gwassi, Lambwe Valley, Sun Migori, Muhuru Bay and other paces for the funeral.

Okeyo stressed the need for the Prime Minister to recognize and respect the rights of minority communities in this country. Already a workshop called for civic education covering two regions of Migori and Homa-Homa Counties at the weekend was boycotted by representatives from the two Kuria districts demanding that similar workshop be held in Kehancha instead of Migori inside Luo-Nyanza.

Th workshop was sponsored by the US Embassy. But the Kurias insist they have the right to hold their own workshop separate from the one organized inside Luo-Nyanza.

The Suba people are the inhabitants of two districts ands two parliamentary constituencies, namely Mbita and Gwassi. A lot of people of Suba origins are living in the diaspora districts like Awendo, Nyatike and Suna-Mgiori. Those residing in Suba region could be numbering about 75,000 adults, while the rest lives outside Suba region.

“The community knew its roots and as such does not need the Prime Minister distortion of historical facts and as such cannot lay down and watch to see their people being marginalized by Raila Odinga for political expediency, “ said Mzee Okeyo-Omuga.

On many occasions while visiting Western Province, the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, had identified his family roots as having originated from with the Abawanga Kingdom of Nabongo Mumia.Nobody in Luo-Nyanza had ever disputed this claim of Luhyia’s blood in the Odinga family. The Luos still loved him so dearly despite of this kind of”double-speak.”said Okeyo.

Mzee Okeyo blamed Mbita MP Otieno Kajwanga’ as the one linked to a secret plot to rubbish the existence of the Suba people. On several occasions, especially during the burial of Mrs Turphena Agutu Okmbo in Kolo village Waware, in Rusinga East, and during the burial of Mrs Damarish Odhimbo the mother of the nominated MP Milly Odhimbo, Kajwang’ flagrantly and adamantly ignored the presence of the Suba Council of Elders. This is the same Kajwang;’who has represented the Suba people in the August House for the last 16 years. He has now shifted to the Senate, but still he will need the votes from the Suba people.

Okeyo appealed to Raila Odinga to humble himself to the Suba people. He should apologize for his uncalled for public utterances against the Suba people.”Respect is a two way traffic. We have all along respect Mr Odinga and even voter for him on a man to man in the 2007. He should reciprocate our good gesture of love and respect and total loyalty and allegiance we owed him.

As a statesman Mr Odinga must abandon parochial politics of survival and stop antagonizing the Suba people. The Suba people have lived harmoniously along side their Luo neighbors from time memorable and as such require not to be lectured by anyone.

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Kenya: Orwa Ojode to face stiff opposition in Ndhiwa with the entry into the race by reformist Ted Odero

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By a Special Correspondent In Homa-Bay {L.O.Omolo}

The election battle for Ndhiwa parliamentary seat is expected to be the most interesting political scenario in the greater Southern Nyanza region.

This is an electoral area which is expected to produce explosive fireworks following the entry into the race by the populist Marine expert who is based in Mwanza, Tanzania and Kisumu Edward Ogonda Odero, who proudly told this writer that a change of political stewardship in Ndhiwa has come calling and was yawning at the constituency doorsteps.

The incumbent Ndhiwa MP is the abrasive Joshua Orwa Ojode who is also an Assistant Minister for Internal Security. He has represented this constituency ever since 1993 and he is also credited for having turned the constituency around in terms of massive development activities, which have since become the envious of the neighboring constituencies.

Ted Odero, as he is known to his peers, hails from Kabuoch, the most populous sub-clan within Ndhiwa with the largest registered votes topping all the five administrative Divisions of Ndhiwa district, which included Riana, Kobama, Ndhiwa,Nyarongi and Pala.

The young Indian trained politician is credited for being a political mobilize par excellence and for his public oratory.

The youthful politician is also credited for having connections in high places including the corridors of power and already his candidature has sent shivers and shock waves down the spinal cord of all other potential contestants for the same seat.

Speaking to this writer by the phone from the Lakeside town of Mwanza, Odero promise the electorate that if elected he would turn Ndhiwa to be the hub of economic activities on the region at the same time makes the agriculturally rich with sufficient annual rainfall also to be the hubs of massive food production.

Odero jokingly said that he had no quarrel with the outgoing MP Orwa Ojode whom he referred to as his friend, but insisted that it was time for a change. “The change is inevitable if the area is to be turned into a vibrant economy and serious development which is devoid of empty political slogans,”

Odero is reported to be a staunch ODM supporter and yout mobilize who has direct connection and good rapport with the party leadership a quality that is expected to work for his advantaged over his opponents,

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KENYA: MAKADARA MP SONKO IS UNFIT TO SIT IN THE HIGHEST SUPREME LEGISLATIVE ORGAN OF THE STATE.

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FOR those voters in Makadara Constituency who voted for Hon James Mbuvi alias Sonko we all respect their democratic choice and verdict.

However, the erratic conduct of their MP, particularly when the legislator mobilized a group of jobless supporters and took them to the Narc Kenya headquarters for the purpose of interrupting the party’s disciplinary committee meeting was the most unfortunate action and an act of insanity.

The whole exercise is intolerable and a clear indication of how our system is falling out of standards and slowly sliding into chaotic and distasteful conditions which may not be far away from another round of mayhem and anarchy like the witnessed in 2007/2008.

It portrayed the Makadara MP as someone who is unfit to be sitting inside Kenya’s most supreme legislative organ of the state. It is indeed, an act which should server as deterrent warning to most of our political parties to be careful about their choice of MPs, especially during the preliminary nomination stages.

The parties must go for the best brains and leave out those whose are only fit to work like Matatu touts, road repairer gangs and plantation workers.

I was personally touched when I saw the mob shoving around the highly respected Gichugu MP Madame Martha Karua, some of them even shamelessly insulting her in full view of Television viewers countrywide. This was the shameful is act of someone who is uncouth, uncultured and unfit to be called honorable. It is an act of someone who did not deserve to sit in the August House.

It is also my passionate appeal to members of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission to re-introduce the toughest language test for those wishing to be elected to Parliament and other legislative bodies like Senate and even County representatives for the purpose of ensuring that those who sits on these organs are conversant with their deliberations.

The recent introduction of live Television coverage of Parliamentary proceedings has exposed many MPs as simple mediocre and semi-illiterates, some of them could not express themselves sufficiently either in English or Kiswahili.

Please return to the old system whereby the Provincial Director of Education {PED} used to sit I the language testing board with few selected English and Kiswahili experts, most of them were High School teachers. It is even shameful that after 48 years of independence during which period Kenya has produced thousands of university graduates and skilled persons in many fields, we still have representatives in the August House politically mediocre who are unable to follow up the deliberations of the House.

Leo Odera Omolo

KISUMU

Kenya: ODM warns of Tuju’s suspected moles in the party and in some parts of Southrn Nyanza

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

There are a number of political turn-coats working with those politician hell bent on derailing Raila Odinga’s presidential ambition comes 2012.

“These saboteurs usually drives back to their rural constituencies while masquerading as potential aspirants eyeing several parliamentary seats in the impending general elections. Some of them, however, have turned out to be agent and political surrogates of the former Cabinet minister and one time Rarieda MP Raphael Tuju”,said a party leader in Homa-Bay.

As much as we would welcome everybody seeking for any elective position ether in the County, Parliament, Senate and even County representatives, we shall ensure that political turn-coats or anyone working in cohort with politicians who are on record of having been classified as hostile to ODM and its leadership are locked out.

Rumor making round have pointed out an accusing finger to four well known politicians as hose allegedly working in cohort with Tuju. Featuring prominently are the names of one George Ogalo Oner who is working with the Kenya Rd Cross in Nairobi. The man of late is said to be very liquid and sending extravagantly some colossal amount of money not less than Kshs two million in every two weeks.

Another name the ODM leader have mirrored on is that of Jack Nduri, the party’s Karachuonyo branch chairman, and one Everest Okambo, who is a businessman in Narok. Okambo is reported to be eyeing Rangwe seat and so is Ogalo Ner. Nduri is eyeing the Karchuonyo seat currently held by the incumbent Eng James Rege.

Another name mentioned as part of the larger group of Tuju’s moles in ODM is one Tom Were a businessman in Nyatike, who is also eyeing for Nyatike seat currently held by h abrasive youthful Edick Omondi Anyanga.

When Raphael Tuju declared his presidential candidature he did not mention any specific political party as his host. But a rumor making the round inside Luo-Nyanza is that the former Foreign Affairs Minister has established a formidable network, which is capable of smashing the invisibility of the ODM.

The party spokesman in Homa-Bay revealed hat ODM is closely watching the movement of a number of its own party officials suspected to be working with either Tuju or the Eldoret North MP William Ruto and would soon expose their names for the public to scrutinize.

We have put in place a team of intelligent people who are conducting surveillance on the activities of our member and leaders suspected to be applying double standards, and whose loyalty.

“We are also trying to trace up the source of funds, which has made some people who several months ago could not even afford a cup of tea have all of sudden become millionaires over night.

Meanwhile the ODM Coordinator of Youth Hilary Ocheng’ Alila who returned home last week after being away for close to one month has told ODM members and leader in the greater Ends

Southern Nyanza to volunteer into conducting civic education among the rural folk and urged those who have yet to register as voters to do so.

He said although our people loved our party chairman Raila Oding, but the only weapon we could use to fight for him and elevate him to State House is to ensure he is elected the next President of the Republic of Kenya is by way of urging our people to register as voters I n their respective constituencies.

Alila strongly denounced the G7alliance as a bunch of politician thriving on malice. Some of them have run bankrupt of idea and are only waiting for the Prime Minister Raila Odinga to say something then the sycophantically get the agenda to issue rejoinders.”These people have nothing to offer to the public about the future of this country and its people. Their main occupation is use Raila’s name whenever they opened their big mouths,”he said.

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KENYA: THE IMPOSITION OF UNPOPULAR AND UNWANTED LEADERS ON THE ELECTORATES IN LUO-NYANZA BY RAILA ODINGA IS THE MOST WORYNG POINT AS THE 2012 ELECTION IS NEARER.

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Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo

FOR along times, there has been a persistent but always ignored complaint about the alleged imposition of leaders upon the people in Luo-Nyanza and on several occasions the Prime Minister Raila Odinga has had to fend off this kind of accusations in many forums.

Political pundits, observers and commentators as well as opinion shapers have written many articles in the local media critical of the practice.

It is evidently clear that many level minded Luos are vehemently opposed to the practice, saying it makes nonsense of the claim of democracy and robs them of their of their democratic right to get leaders of their choice .It is indeed, a total mockery to the essence of democratic principles.

Imposed leaders have not turned out to be the leaders that the people deserve and they often failed to deliver to their constituents because thy owe allegiance to the “Big Man”.

The anger and to frustration witnessed in Nyakach, Rangwe, Rongo, Kasipul-Kabondo constituencies in the 2007 elections bear testimony to this fact ad could be a pointer to the kind of practice to expect in 2012 should this undemocratic practice continue.

Mbita people were not left behind in the wake of an attempt to influence their choice of an MP in the coming general elections, as was witnessed in Rusinga Island last Sunday.

The battle for Mbita Constituency seat pitting Hon Milly Odhiambo and Phares Ogweno Ratego, amongst many other has taken a new dimension which could have serious ramifications in the year 2012 in politics of Luo-Nyanza and the larger Kenya as a whole.

The apparent endorsement of Milly Odhiambo by Mama Ida Odinga before a mammoth crowd during the burial of the former Kenyan envoy to the UN Ambassador Michael George Okeyo in Rusinga Island last Sunday was the clearest indication that the old habits die hard and that the PM may have not take the people’s wish not to meddle with the local political contests seriously.

Raila Odinga’s speech and demeanor did not allay fear that he was up to what his Mama Ida Odinga did. Perhaps it was a coincidence that he planned to give civic education on gender issues and the need to allow the women equal opportunity to compete for elective public offices in order to meet the new constitutional requirements.

Odinga told the thousands of mourners that women have suffer from lack of a level of playing field since they compete for positions where they are married {as foreigners} against me who have the advantage of having all their relatives and childhood and friends in the area.

The immediate reaction from the people of Mbita was very interesting and could be a pointer to how people are ready to cling to their right to determine their future political destiny.

The majority of Mbita residents this writ talked with were of the opinion that this coming election is not like the others the past. It is about the future of their children; It is about uplifting of their living condition-which has been degraded seriously in the recent past

It is about addressing the abject poverty which has ravaged and eaten away heir human dignity. Though they all agreed that progress infrastructural development has taken place, the aspect of the household level economic well being has bee grossly neglected. As a result a very large percentage of the population has not no food to put on their tables; they cannot treat sick; they cannot afford a decent burial of the departed beloved ones.

Kenyans are sick and tired of begging. They want to stand up and do something meaningful and gainful for themselves and their family. They want to re- claim back their dignity and lost glory of the past, which have been ripped off from them.

To achieve their objective, the people feel they must be responsible for choosing their leaders. Kenyans, the Luos included are not ready to surrender this noble responsibility to someone else.

The Wananchi want leaders who will be answerable to them and not someone up there in the system who is unaware of their local problems.

The people Mbita constituency have expressed the wish that they want interrogate their own sons, wives and daughters themselves.

Majority of people I talked were very much concerned that the PM has rushed to point for them a leader even before Mbita people begin to examine the CVs of those offering themselves for the position of leadership!! Their fear was even made worse when they remembered that the PM intervened last elections and denied them the opportunity to chose between two strong candidate Otieno Kajwang’ and Sammy Wakiaga.

This time round, their battle royal is shaping up between Milly Odhambo ,the Nominated MP and Phares Ogweno Ratego, the two strong candidates who are well known to the electorates.

Milly is very sharp and strong and strong personality with a wagging tongue for political battle. She has proved to be very good debater in parliament over the last four and half years or so she has been a nominated MP. Her strength lies in her combative nature and willingness to aggressively her opponents. That is why the PM told the thousands of mourners in Rusinga Island last week that she was nominated to counterbalance the Martha Karua factor in Parliament, being a woman like Martha Karua, complete with aggressiveness.

The observers and political pundits alike say that Milly Odhiambo’s emotional nature maker her loose her cool during debate debates, a factor makes her stray into trivialities more than substance. Despite of her acknowledged good performance in the August House, Mbita people say she failed to connect with the constituents during the last four years and never made any effort to participate in development activities with the constituency. It was like if she never thought she would come back to ask for their votes,

Perhaps a more accurate way to see it is that development is not her strong area. It is natural that God may not endow one person with all the qualities, and development is one quality that God did not bless her with.

On the other hand her opponent in the impending contest race for Mbita seat Phares Ogweno Ratego is a development expert with a long experience in development activities, having worked with an international development agency for over decade.

Ratego is reported to have majored and acquired Master’s degree in Development Finance in Birmingham University in the UK and has since been involved in development, working with Development Finance Company of Kenya before joining USAID as its top office in charge of project development designing and management. His keen interest in development as the driving behind the formation of Mbita Professional Caucus in 2003,which has been credited for with many projects initiated jointly with the area MP Otieno Kajwng’ from 2003 to-date,

Ratego has been working hand in hand with the MP ever since 2003 starting 22 new secondary schools in the area and a host of others other projects. He is also responsible for several of the USAID projects in Nyanza, especially those supporting fishermen in Lake Victoria including Mbita Ice Plant, Horticulture farming, Poultry, Savings and Credits Society {FOSA} and many others.

However, at a personal level, Ratego is seen as too much of a diplomat and a Christian something which does not excite some people very much. Such people think that a politician must be a little crocked, someone who is ever ready to cheat and murder, if he has to.

To them Ratego, says too much honesty and straightforwardness is no their cup of tea.

However, many people think that from 2012 onwards people will need leadership which can foster development. The era of empty political slogans and political bull –fighting is receding fast behind us under the new constitutional dispensation. Also gone for good are the era of hero worshiping. The new constitution has divided the country into 47 Counties, which are going to compete as economic units, trading with each other.

The Counties governments will work closely with future MPs to undertake development in their respective constituencies.

In this context the person that should be at the front must now have a good grasp and excellent record of development not a pure politician without any knowledge of what development is all about.

This time around counties and by extension, constituencies will have to push hard their development agenda, otherwise they will be left behind and remain slaves to the other rich counties.

The criteria for choosing leadership has therefore taken 360 degree turn it is no longer business as usual-pure and applied politics like before.

This is the point Ratego’s CV becomes more suitable for the job than that of his opponents. But as one resident prophetically said” Mbita people would therefore be happy to be left alone to decide who can best deliver them out of quagmire of abject poverty.

Ends